Woman burns co-wife to death as husband escapes

An 18-year-old woman has died after a fire allegedly set by her co-wife engulfed a shop and bedroom where she and her husband were sleeping in Mudzi, prompting a murder investigation by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

In a statement posted on X, the police said the incident occurred at Rwamba Business Centre in Mudzi and confirmed the arrest of the suspect, identified as Elizaberth Ponji, the following day.

According to the police, the victim, Loveness Zinhu, was Ponji’s co-wife. “The ZRP confirms the arrest of Elizaberth Ponji on 02/07/26 in connection with a case of murder which occurred at Rwamba Business Centre, Mudzi on 01/07/26 in which her co-wife, Loveness Zinhu (18) died,” the statement read.

Police alleged that Ponji poured an unidentified substance onto the floor before setting the shop and adjoining bedroom on fire while Zinhu and her husband, Peter Mudzengerere, 30, were asleep inside. “The suspect allegedly set ablaze a shop and a bedroom in which the victim and her husband, Peter Mudzengerere (30), were sleeping in, after pouring an unknown substance onto the floor,” the police said. Zinhu died in the incident, although the police did not specify whether she died at the scene or later from her injuries. Authorities also did not disclose the type of substance allegedly used to start the fire.

Police said Mudzengerere managed to escape from the burning building but collapsed shortly afterwards. “Peter Mudzengerere managed to escape from the burning house and fell unconscious.” The police did not provide an update on his condition. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.